Stainless steel frames, fine mesh side shields. Think Holtzmans glasses from the new Ghostbusters, and they’re on sale for under $40. Astrud and I have pairs (I have two, one as workshop glasses with bifocals, and another as dedicated sunglasses).
2 Likes
I’m not technically sure those would be allowed in the metal shop because we specifically spec Z87 with +U iirc.
Edit: They look really sweet though. I want to order a pair 
1 Like
hmm $3500 lasik + $10 safety glasses. I must have done something wrong.
2 Likes
Which U is required:
UV Filter Transmittance:
- U2: Max Effective Far UV= .1% / Max Near UV= 3.7%
- U2.5: Max Effective Far UV= .1% / Max Near UV= 2.3%
- U3: Max Effective Far UV= .07% / Max Near UV= 1.4%
- U4: Max Effective Far UV= .04% / Max Near UV= .5%
- U5: Max Effective Far UV= .02% / Max Near UV= .2%
- U6: Max Effective Far UV= .01% / Max Near UV= .1%
I believe the rule is simply that they must have a U rating, not specifically which one. It’s pretty hard to find the data on a random set of safety glasses, it’s much easier to see if the label claims +U.
I think it boils down to: Those are your eyeballs/cornea/retina. It’s also your wallet.
This is not an attempt to get out of buying glasses or arguing not to wear safety protections. I already have prescription safety glasses. I even went out and bought the ANSI standard several months ago when a similar post from Metal Shop sent me down the rabbit hole of trying to understand the U2-U6 marking on Ultraviolet Filter Lenses. If I have to I would be more than happy to buy another pair in order to protect my eyes if they are necessary.
I am confused why the Metal Shop keeps invoking ANSI standards that do not exist. There is no +U (if there is a + sign in front of the U that indicates it met the Impact Protector Requirements there will also always be number that follows the U) or U designations in the ANSI standard. ANSI Standard Table 3 pg. 9 There is only the U2-U6 designations for Transmittance Requirements for Ultraviolet Filter Lenses from my Talk comment above found in Table 8 pg 16 of the ANSI standards.
It is my understanding that the majority ANSI safety glasses are made of polycarbonate or Trivex (I have not found any that are not) because they do not shatter like glass or other plastics
Polycarbonate naturally blocks up to 385 nm of wavelengths of UV radiation.
Trivex provides natural blocking of the UV wavelengths up to 394nm.
The ANSI standard on page 5 defines ultraviolet as electromagnetic wavelengths from 200-380.
They inherit their natural UV blocking characteristics from ultraviolet light stabilizers incorporated in the plastic. The ultraviolet absorbers (benzotriazoles and hydroxyphenyltriazines for polycarbonate) prevent deterioration of physical properties such as loss of impact strength, changes in color, cracking, crazing, and others. From article Spectral Evaluation of Eyeglass Blocking Efficiency of Ultraviolet/High-energy Visible Blue Light for Ocular Protection https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6615932/
This is also an excerpt from The Fabricator magazine article Selecting the Best Lens for Welder’s Eye protection which further backs up the point I am trying to make.
“Clear polycarbonate safety glasses, in addition to guarding against particles or splashes, also can block UV radiation up to 385 nanometers. According to Dr. Felix Barker, director of research at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, this blocking ability makes clear safety glasses helpful for guarding nonwelders from indirect exposure to UV rays generated by welding. Side shields also are important if indirect exposure is a possibility.
“It doesn’t take much exposure to be affected by UV rays. An unprotected worker could be standing off to the side while others are welding and a few hours later end up with painful eyes,” Barker said.”
So my question is why does the Metal Shop not just say ANSI marking required which means they cannot shatter so they are not glass or plastic safety glasses but are Polycarbonate or Trivex which means they naturally block the UV. Otherwise please tell us which U2-U6 designations are appropriate for our Metal Shop.
All my ANSI quotes come from my personal copy of the American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices 2020.
Sounds like you’ve done more research on it than at least I have, show up to a metal shop meeting bring your standard, and get the rule changed.